CRUISING SEASON 2023
Join us for our 2023 St. Patrick's Day Clover Cruise on March 11th!
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- What to Expect & Drop Off Area Information -

Accessibility

What to Expect & Drop Off Area Information

Our Boats Are Accessible To Everyone

We work hard to ensure that everyone on Chicago’s First Lady Cruises is able to access the beauty of our boats and enjoy a wonderful experience aboard. Below you’ll discover the easiest ways to board, and don’t forget—we can make your experience much more pleasant if you give us advance notice for any special boarding needs. Our crew is happy to help when you arrive at the dock level.

Guests with Limited Mobility – What to Expect Onboard

  • All our boats, except Chicago's First Lady & Chicago's Little Lady, are handicap accessible and offer a wheelchair-accessible restroom.
  • Tickets for tours on this ship can be purchased by selecting the 9:00 am, 10:00 am, 11:00 am, 12:00 pm, 1:00 pm, 2:00 pm, 3:00 pm or 5:00 pm departure times.
  • For safety reasons, motorized scooters and electric wheelchairs cannot be accommodated aboard the ship. Guests who are able to and have assistance to transfer may utilize the company's manual wheelchair (based upon availability). Please note our dockside staff is unable to assist with transfers, but will gladly monitor wheelchairs and scooters left at the dock during a tour.
  • For those requesting use of the company's manual wheelchair, please visit the ticket office first upon arrival.
  • When boarding the ship, guests cross two ramps and enter through an opening (doorway) that is 36 inches wide. Crew members will assist you in guiding the wheelchair across the gangway.
  • Guests who are unable to climb stairs to the upper deck may choose to sit on the open-air bow deck of the vessel or the climate-controlled enclosed salon with large windows.
  • Staff members will gladly take table-side drink orders for passengers with limited mobility. 

Under Federal law and due to special marine safety construction guidelines, USCG-regulated small vessels are not subject to land-based architectural configuration requirements. Although we do our best to accommodate those with special mobility needs consistent with our vessel capabilities, staffing and the docking space (which is publicly owned and controlled), we can do a better job with advance notice. To do so, call 847-358-1330 Monday-Friday 9am-4pm.

Accessing the Dock Area via Ramp

Our boats board at the Riverwalk level, located down a two-level staircase, at the southeast corner of the Michigan Avenue Bridge at Wacker Drive. For guests on foot who are unable to use stairs, there is a ramp available to access the Riverwalk:

The Ramp at Wacker Drive and State Street: This ramp is ADA-compliant. Access on the north side of Wacker Drive, just east of State Street. Proceed down two levels to Riverwalk and continue east two blocks until you see our ticket office awnings just past the Michigan Avenue Bridge underpass.

About the Mobility Access Drop-Off Area

The drop-off area is on the same level as our dock. View directions to access drop-off area. After dropping off your passenger, you have two options for parking:

  1. Metered Parking: Located on the lowest level of  Wacker Drive (steps from the drop-off area) and payable with a credit card. To park longer than 2 hours, download the ParkChicago app in advance.
  2. Discounted Parking at LAZ Garage (111 E. Wacker Drive): Garage entrance accessible via Upper Wacker Drive.

Please note, guests arriving by taxi will want to prearrange pick-up because no taxis are waiting at the lowest level of Wacker Drive.

Cruisechicago.com Accessibility Statement

Updated: July 2019.

General

Cruisechicago.com strives to ensure that its services are accessible to people with disabilities. Cruisechicago.com has invested a significant amount of resources to help ensure that its website is made easier to use and more accessible for people with disabilities, with the strong belief that every person has the right to live with dignity, equality, comfort and independence.

Accessibility on Cruisechicago.com

Cruisechicago.com makes available the UserWay Website Accessibility Widget that is powered by a dedicated accessibility server. The software allows Cruisechicago.com to improve its compliance with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG 2.1).

Enabling the Accessibility Menu

The Cruisechicago.com accessibility menu can be enabled by clicking the accessibility menu icon that appears on the corner of the page. After triggering the accessibility menu, please wait a moment for the accessibility menu to load in its entirety.

Disclaimer

Cruisechicago.com continues its efforts to constantly improve the accessibility of its site and services in the belief that it is our collective moral obligation to allow seamless, accessible and unhindered use also for those of us with disabilities.

Despite our efforts to make all pages and content on Cruisechicago.com fully accessible, some content may not have yet been fully adapted to the strictest accessibility standards. This may be a result of not having found or identified the most appropriate technological solution.

Here For You

If you are experiencing difficulty with any content on Cruisechicago.com or require assistance with any part of our site, please contact us during normal business hours as detailed below and we will be happy to assist.

Contact Us

If you wish to report an accessibility issue, have any questions or need assistance, please contact Cruisechicago.com Customer Support as follows: Email: [email protected]

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112 E. Wacker Drive, Chicago, IL 60601
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